Indigenous Knowledge Systems of Western Region

The Western Region is located in south Ghana, reaching from the western and eastern Ivory Coast border in the west to the Central region in the east, includes the capital and large twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi on the coast, coastal Axim, and a hilly inland area including Elubo. It includes Ghana's southernmost location, Cape Three Points, where crude oil was discovered in commercial quantities in June 2007. The Western region enjoys a long coastline that stretches from South Ghana's border with Ivory Coast to the Western region's boundary with the Central region on the east.

The Western region has the highest rainfall in Ghana, lush green hills, and fertile soils. There are numerous small and large-scale gold mines along with offshore oil platforms that dominate the Western Region's economy.

The Western Region is the largest producer of cocoa and timber, the second highest producer of gold, with the potential to become the highest producer of this commodity. There are five major gold mines, namely Teberebie and Iduaprem goldfields, both now owned by Ashanti goldfields, Prestea/Bogoso mines now owned by a South African company, Tarkwa goldfields, and Aboso goldfields located at Damang near Huni Valley. There are other proven but as yet unexploited ore deposits at Tarkwa, Aboso, Bondaye, and the forest reserve areas of Jomoro and Nzema East, Aowin-Suaman, Amenfi and Mpohor-Wassa-East districts.

The region has the largest and only economically viable rubber plantation in the country, stretching from Agona Junction to Bonsa on the Tarkwa road, from Agona Junction to Dadwen on the Axim road.